Toaster case



Sept. 21, 1954 H. L. OLSON r-rrm.

TOASTER CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1950 A MlLL ElR o ATTOR EYS Patented Sept. 21, 1954 TOASTER CASE Henry L. Olson and Robert A. Miller, Grand Haven, Mich., assignors to Camfield Manufacturing Company, Grand Haven, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 9, 1950, Serial No. 167,000

5 Claims.

The herein disclosed invention relates to cases for toasters and particularly electric toasters and resides in providing a case which may be quickly and easily assembled.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a case in which the parts can be fabricated at a minimum expense.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a case which will be attractive in appearance and which will utilize parts having joints generally horizontally arranged with respect to the case.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the case with a lower case section open at the top and with an upper case section open at the bottom, said case sections having marginal tending rabbet at the marginal portion thereof and in which the marginal portion of the othe case section is adapted to be received. I

An object of the invention resides in construct- .ing the lower case section in two parts, one part forming aside wall and fragments ofthe end walls of the case and the other part forming the other side wall and other fragments of the end walls of the case. a

Another obj ect of the invention resides in connecting said fragments of the end walls together by means of a bar secured thereto at the marginal portions thereof and holding the parts in proper spaced relation.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the upper case section with an inwardly turned lip forming a catch and being part of said catch means, said lip being adapted to engage beneath the bar and hold the" sections in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention resides in arranging the bars in inclined relation so that said lips are forced apart as the case sections are brought together and whereby the lips will spring back in place beneath the bars when the sections are in proper position.

Another object of the invention resides in providing end pieces for the lower case section and in attaching the same to the upper portion of the lower case section through the bars.

Other objects of the invention reside in the 2' novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

The case illustrated consists of a lower case section constructed of two spaced parts. These parts are formed to provide side walls for the case and fragments of the end walls of the same.

The lower case section is open at the top and is formed with a marginal portion having a perimetrically extending rabbet therein. The marginal portions of the two fragments of the lower case section are connected together by means of bars which extend across the same and are secured thereto. Attached to the ends of the lower case section are end pieces which are secured at their upper ends to the said bars and which are further secured to the lowermost portion of the fragments of the lower case section. overlying the lower case section is an upper case section which is open at the bottom and which is formed with a marginal portion adapted to be received within the rabbet in the lower case section. The upper case section has inwardly turned lips forming catches adapted to be forced into position beneath the connecting bars and serving to hold the case sections attached. These bars are arranged in inclined relation to force the lips apart when the two case sections are brought together, stressing the upper case section to cause the lips to spring back into position beneath said bars.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a case illustrating an embodiment of the invention and taken on line I--l of Fig. 2;.

Fig. 2 'is a cross sectional view of the case taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the end portion of the lower case section of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational longitudinal sectional view of a part of the case structure shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the position of the parts before assembly.

The instant invention consists of a lower case section l0 open at the top and an upper case section II open at the bottom and adapted to be applied to the case section I0. Both of these case sections are principally constructed of sheet metal which is stamped in suitable dies in the desired form and which are assembled as will be subsequently described.

The lower case section I ll consists of two parts 12 and 13 which are spaced from one another. The part l2 forms a side wall M of the case and has two fragments l5 extending inwardly therefrom and which form parts of the end walls of the case. The part I3 is similarly constructed to form a side wall 2| and has fragments 15 forming portions of the end walls of the lower section of the case. Both of the parts l2 and [3 have flanges i5 projecting inwardly from the walls [4.and22l and from the fragments Hand 22. The upper marginal portions it of the parts I2 and I3 are offset from the side and end walls to form rabbets I! in said lower case section providing upwardly facing shoulders it. These rabbets are relieved at the lower parts of the same as indicated at l9 to form projections 2-3 which extend outwardly beyond the-innermost portions of the shoulders l8. The-marginal portions l6 are arranged in inclined relation With respect to the side walls Hi and ill, projecting inwardly therefrom.

For securing the parts.l2 and I3 together two bars 23 are employed. These bars extend across the marginal portions-l6 of the fragments of the parts 1 2 and t3- and areo'iTset-as designated at 24 to bring the majorportionof saidbars in substantial alignment with the portions H5. The said bars may be secured tothe portions l t by means of spot welds *25, or the same 'may be riveted thereto. The bars 23=hold the=parts=-l2-andl 3 in proper spaced relation.

The uppercase-section H is dome-shaped in form having sides 26, ends-Zl-and axtop' 23. This section is preferably constructed from a single piece of sheetmetal drawn 'to'the desired shape. The-case section llisopen atthe bottom and is formed with a marginal portion 2'9 which is adapted to be received I in the rabbet 1? formed by-the oifsetmarginal portion it of the case section H Themarginal portion I B serves toguide the two case sections into register. When 'the parts are 'in'proper position the lower edge '30 of themarginal portionzerests uponthe shoulder [Bend the marginal-portion 29 engages the projections'Zfi. The top -23 is formed Withopenings 3i through-which the bread to-betoasted maybe insertedinto thetoaster propercontained within the'case.

"For holding thecasesections attached to one another catch means is employed" which utilizes the two-bars -23. In addition 'lipsiii "aretformed on the lower marginal portions 2c at the end walls 2-! "of the upper'casesectionrfl as-bestshown in Fig. 4 and which are'a'dapte'dfto engage-the bars 23'. The bars 23 are arranged in' inclined relation, -'the sameas the marginal portions l3 of the lower-case section -I30. "When-the upper case section I l-is forced'downwardly-over "the marginal portions wand-the barsf2-3'ofthe, lower case section the lips 32 are 'sprung-apartand When the same 'pass'the loweredges 33 of thebars23, the said lips spring backinto position'beneath said bars and hold the sections in assembled. relation. It will thus be seen that the-lips132 form catches constituting a part-ofthecatchmeans and which have upwardly facing shoulders engaging the shoulders on the bars 23 formed "by .the lower edges 33 thereof.

For closing-thespace between theparts l2 and '13 of thelow ercase'section Hi two end pieces 34 and 35 are employed. Theseend pieces being identical in constructiononly the end piece 34will be described in detail. "This endpiece is ,constructed from a plastic. material and'has a wall36 overlying thevertical-marginal portions 310i the fragments 15 and -Zl ofthepartslZ-andl3. This :wall is curved to conform to the curvature of "the parts l z and t3 and 'fitssnuglyagainst'the fragcured to the toaster by means of a clip 39. $39 has a base 40 which overlies two bosses 4| 4 ments [5. The wall 36 has lugs 56 on the same which engage the edges 51 of the marginal portions 31 to hold the parts in proper position. At the upper ends of the end pieces 34 and 35 are formed projections 38 which serve as handles by means of which the toaster may be readily carried about. The-end pieces:34 ;and35 are formed ornamentalto enhance the appearance of the case. The upper end of the end piece 34. is sle- C ip formed on the end piece 34. Screws 42 pass through-the baselt and are screwed into these bosses. The clip 39, has a wide finger 43 which is ,adapted'to engagein back of the bar 23 to hold the upper end of the end piece 34 in position. The clip :39, isiconstructed of resilient material so that theupper end of the end piece is urged to fit snugly against the toaster case proper. The lower end of the end piece 34 has an inturned portion 44 which is disposed beneath :the fianges di Feet 46'are-formedon these portions and which-support the case-proper above the surface onewhich the feet rest to provide ventilation. Theeendzpiece 34 is attached to the flanges w by means of screws 4! which extend through the feet :46 and are screwed into the flanges 45.

The" bottom of the-case is closed by -means of a bottom 48. This bottom consists of two-.end members fieand -50 and a closure e ldisposed intermediatesa'id end members. The closure 5 l-=is hingedly connected to the member by means'of hinges 52 and is detachably secured-to 'the end member "59 by meansof aspr-ingcli 25-3. The end-members 49 and- 59 are held attached tothe case 'by being disposed between= the-fianges fi of the parts l2 and-I3 and the portionsxe i'of-the end pieces 34 and 35. Screws 4-9 also -pass through these said-endmembers.

For the'purpose of attachingthe mechanism of the toaster to the 'case the flanges-M5 *are constructed with ears 5:3 and through which suitable screws extend and which are screwed into parts of themechanism.

The use 'ofthe invention is-obvious. Themechanism is first attached to the ears iit on fianges and the --various operating levers projected throughslotste in the end pieces =3-and *35. When-the case is to be closed-the upper-case section H is merely placed uponthe lower case sectional-2 with the'marginal-portiomZ-Q*of'sai'd; upper case -section *extending about the marginal portion 16 of the lower case section. =The upper case section is then forced downwardly'which be forced-apartas; the. top-section descends; When the-sai'd lips pass belowtheedges13'3 "ofthe said bars, .the lips snap inpQsition. and the upper :sectionisrigidly securedto thellowersection.

Theadvantages .of the; invention are manifest. The deviceis-extremely simple inconstructionand can be readily fabricated by methods and. equipment now available for the purpose. ,With-.the invention, no screws. or .other fastening-members are exposed, ;.and .the cappearance 10f the-.zcase greatly enhanced. The 'jointxbetween the upper and slower :case rsection extends ;in a horizontal direction so that the: case is :extremely attractive in appearance. Theend-piecesuse'd with-the'case serve to close the spaces between the two parts of the lower section of 'the case thereby: simplifying -the'constructionof thecase. The assembly of the upper and lower-casesection-is extremely simple and-is accomplished-bymerely-placingthe upper section over the lower and pressing the two together.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new an desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a case for toasters, a lower case section consisting of two oppositely disposed parts forming the lower portions of the side walls of the case and fragments of the lower portions of the end walls of the case, the ends of said fragments being spaced from one another, end pieces closing the spaces between said fragments and secured to said case, the upper marginal portions of the two parts of the lower case section having inwardly disposed offsets forming outwardly facing open rabbets terminating at the facing ends of said fragments, bars extending across and secured to the ends of said offsets and holding the parts of the lower case section in position, said bars lying substantially in continuation of said offsets and being spaced from said end pieces to leave the outer and under surfaces of said bars free, an upper case section open at the bottom and having a lower marginal portion received in the rabbets of the lower case section and overlying the outer surfaces of said bars, and inwardly turned lips at the ends of the upper case section and disposed at the lower edges of the marginal portions thereof, said lips having upwardly facing surfaces engaging the under surfaces of the bars to hold the section in assembled relation.

2. In a case for toasters, a lower case section consisting of two oppositely disposed parts forming the lower portions of the side walls of the case and fragments of they lower portions of the end walls of the case, the ends of said fragments being spaced from one another, end pieces closing the spaces between said fragments and secured to said case, the upper marginal portions of the two parts of the lower case section having inwardly disposed offsets forming outwardly facing open rabbets terminating at the facing ends of said fragments, bars extending across and secured to the ends of said offsets and holding the parts of the lower case section in position, said bars being disposed in inclined relation and lying substantially in continuation of said offsets and being spaced from said end pieces to leave the outer and under surfaces of said bars free, an upper partly resilient case section open at the bottom and having a lower marginal portion received in the rabbets of the lower case section and overlying the outer surfaces of said bars, and inwardly turned lips at the ends of the upper case section and disposed at the lower edges of the marginal portions thereof, said lips having inwardly disposed edges adapted to engage the outer surfaces of said bars and to spring the upper case section upon downward pressure thereon and to force said lips below said bars, said lips having upwardly facing surfaces engaging the under surfaces of the bars to hold the section in assembled relation, said lips through the resiliency of said upper case section springing in place beneath said under surfaces of said bars when the lips pass below the same.

3. In a case for toasters, a lower case section consisting of two oppositely disposed parts forming the lower portions of the side walls of the case and fragments of the lower portions of the end walls of the case, the ends of said fragments being spaced from one another, end pieces closing the spaces between said fragments and secured to said case, the upper marginal portions of the two parts of the lower case section having inwardly disposed offsets forming outwardly facing open rabbets terminating at the facing ends of said fragments, bars extending across and secured to the ends of said offsets and holding the parts of the lower case section in position, an upper case section open at the bottom and having a lower marginal portion received in the rabbets of the lower case section and overlying the outer surfaces of said bars, and inwardly turned lips at the ends of the upper case section and disposed at the lower edges of the marginal portions thereof, said lips having upwardly facing surfaces engaging the under surfaces of the bars to hold the section in assembled relation.

4. In a case for toasters, a lower case section consisting of two oppositely disposed parts forming the lower portions of the side walls of the case and fragments of the lower portions of the end walls of the case, the ends of said fragments being spaced from one another, end pieces closing the spaces between said fragments and secured to said case, the upper marginal portions of the two parts of the lower case section having inwardly disposed offsets forming outwardly facing open rabbets terminating at the facing ends of said fragments, bars extending across and secured to said end fragments, an upper case section open at the bottom and having a lower marginal portion received in the rabbets of the lower case section and overlying the outer surfaces of said bars, and inwardly turned lips at the ends of the upper case section and disposed at the lower edges of the marginal portions thereof, said lips having upwardly facing surfaces engaging the under surfaces of the bars to hold the section in assembled relation.

5. In a case for toasters, a first case section having perimetrically extending marginal portions formed with inwardly disposed offsets providing outwardly facing open rabbets, said offsets having spaced facing ends providing a space therebetween, a bar extending across and secured to the ends of said offsets, said bar having an outer side surface extending substantially in continuation of the outer surfaces of said offsets and innermost and outermost edge surfaces angularly disposed with reference to the side surface thereof, a second case section having a marginal portion received in said rabbets and overlying the outer side surface of said bar, and an inwardly turned lip at themarginal portion of said second case section entering said space and having a surface facing the inner edge surface of the bar and engageable therewith to restrain separation of the case section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 651,070 Enoch June 5, 1900 785,380 Ripson Mar. 21, 1905 1,485,050 Phillips Feb. 26, 1924 2,326,589 Weeks Aug. 110, 1943 2,564,368 Miller Aug. 14, 1951 

